Thorpe's admission a positive step

IAN Thorpe's confirmation he is gay is a positive step but the fact his admission is even a news story shows that homophobia still exists, the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby says.

THORPE'S decision to confirm his sexuality was hardly shocking television, pulling in 982,000 viewers compared to the 1.3 million who tuned into Seven News and 1.2 million Australians who preferred to watch the X-Factor, which aired at the same time.